Chuck Carree - Mintz can take work home with him now

Wednesday

Apr 10, 2013 at 3:09 PM

Entering this spring training, he fretted over acceptance by a new team, but the Rangers made the transition smooth.

By Chuck CarreeChuck.Carree@StarNewsOnline.com

Steve Mintz spent Sunday night and Monday with his family in Leland.While that routine is not out of the ordinary for most people, the first-year pitching coach with the Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, can now come home with regularity, especially following home afternoon games. Easier family visits were an overriding factor in switching to the Texas Rangers organization after 11 years in the same capacity with Minnesota.It also is rare in pro baseball for teams to grant coaches permission for a lateral move. Mintz had spent the previous four minor-league seasons with Fort Myers in the Florida State League."I have been blessed, with the opportunities I have had,'' said Mintz, a former standout at North Brunswick High School. "The Twins were very accommodating in letting me talk with the Rangers. I told the Twins I wanted to find a way to get closer to my family and see them more.''Entering this spring training, he fretted over acceptance by a new team, but the Rangers made the transition smooth.During his time in the Twins organization with Fort Myers, Beloit (Wisc.), New Britain (Conn.) and the rookie Gulf Coast League in Florida, he only visited during breaks or the off-season.Before returning to the Pelicans and busing to Lynchburg for a series, he went hunting Monday with 12-year-old son Jacob. He hopes to see soccer games of all his children, including daughter Abby and oldest son Hunter."I will see my wife (Cathi) and kids more during summertime than since I have known them,'' Mintz said. He signed a pro contract in June 1990 and appeared in 17 games in the major leagues. Following frequent minor-league stops, he retired midway through 2001, but spent the second half of the year as a short-season pitching coach with the Angels.With the Pelicans, Mintz wears No. 13. For him, it is not unlucky and nor does he believe in superstition. He first donned the number in 1996 while winning the Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player and just kept the number.While he knows it takes time to develop rapport among pitchers, he has wasted no time already in 2013 correcting flaws through video study and game observations. The Rangers have prospects they would like to move quickly, he pointed out, and rely on daily progress reports for promotions.The Pelicans are 2-3 after Wednesday afternoon's loss at Lynchburg, but in the minors, wins and losses are irrelevant; only player development matters.For statistical criteria, Mintz looks at walks and hits allowed per inning, but quality strike percentage is his yardstick.While fans and pitchers may gush over six shutout innings, Mintz is not impressed if only 50 percent were quality strikes."That is not going to cut it on the next level,'' he said. "I look at a game a lot different than pitchers."My name in baseball was not worth getting a job closer to home unless I did things the proper way, followed protocol.''

Staff writer Chuck Carree can be reached at 343-2262, Chuck.Carree@StarNewsOnline.com or on Twitter at @StarNewsSports.